Malaria, a disease spread by mosquitoes, infects about 300 million people a year and causes about 1 million deaths a year. Children are most vulnerable to the disease, whereas most adults rebound fairly quickly. Many NGOs work to disseminate mosquito nets in sub-Saharan Africa in an effort to reduce the incidence of malaria, but results have been limited. Experts state that a different approach is needed to resolve this major health epidemic, including taking suggestions from the very people who are affected by the disease. Why is it important to include the people affected by malaria in developing ways to prevent the disease? What are some of the suggestions they might make?

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Zachary Lawrence

17 February, 19:01

Malaria, a disease spread by mosquitoes, infects about 300 million people a year and causes about 1 million deaths a year. Children are most vulnerable to the disease, whereas most adults rebound fairly quickly. Many NGOs work to disseminate mosquito nets in sub-Saharan Africa in an effort to reduce the incidence of malaria, but results have been limited. Experts state that a different approach is needed to resolve this major health epidemic, including taking suggestions from the very people who are affected by the disease. Why is it important to include the people affected by malaria in developing ways to prevent the disease? What are some of the suggestions they might make?

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Isla Frederick · Answer 1

Rather than have a third party or an expert develop an outside solution, ideas from within the affected communities might best lead to a more expansive adoption of the habit. Public health officials could focus on educating mothers on the severity of the disease in child mortality, which might lead them to use the nets for their children’s protection. Collaboration among health experts and local people might produce a solution that would allow for prevention instead of the need for medical intervention.